Baby stillborn after doctor's 'numerous mistakes'

A DOCTOR made `numerous mistakes' in handling the labour of a woman whose baby was eventually stillborn, a medical hearing was told. Dr Tariq El Faki's treatment was inappropriate, inadequate, and not in the best interests of mother or baby, the General Medical Council heard.

A DOCTOR made `numerous mistakes' in handling the labour of a woman whose baby was eventually stillborn, a medical hearing was told.

Dr Tariq El Faki's treatment was inappropriate, inadequate, and not in the best interests of mother or baby, the General Medical Council heard.

Suzanne Moloney said her pregnancy had gone without a hitch up to the time of birth at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Nigel Grundy, counsel for the GMC, said the doctor, a specialist registrar in obstretrics and gynaecology, had twice overruled a senior house officer whom he said correctly believed an emergency caesarean section was vital.

The senior house officer eventually carried out the procedure, but the girl, Mrs Moloney's first child, was born dead.

The GMC's fitness to practise panel was told that Dr El Faki repeatedly failed to correctly interpret scan readings which he should have realised were `grossly' abnormal.

They also heard he failed to order an urgent transfer to the hospital's delivery unit and failed to write notes to explain his medical plan or what he was thinking at the time.

He was also criticised for prescribing Syntocinon, a drug used to speed up labour.

Dr El Faki, who failed to turn up at the Manchester hearing which is progressing in his absence, also faces allegations of misconduct in respect of two other expectant mothers.

He is also charged with breach of a GMC interim order which imposed conditions on his registration as a doctor.